When comparing the efficacy of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) with ultrasound for diagnosing gouty arthritis, DECT showed better accuracy in detecting tophi, according to a recent study in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.
Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective management and prevention of complications. The study’s goal was to “explore the performance and effect of DECT and ultrasound in the diagnosis of gouty arthritis and to provide a reference for the clinical diagnosis of gouty arthritis.”
Researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of 76 patients with gouty arthritis who were admitted to the hospital between June 2020 and June 2022. The diagnosis of gouty arthritis was established through ultrasound and DECT. Various imaging findings obtained through these techniques were analyzed to assess their diagnostic accuracy.
Laboratory tests revealed elevated uric acid levels, ranging from 254.1 to 720.05 μmol/L, and C-reactive protein levels ranging from 4.25 to 10.3 mg/L. The results demonstrated that DECT outperformed ultrasound in terms of accuracy. The specificity of serum uric acid was notably higher in DECT compared with ultrasound for diagnosing gouty arthritis.
The study also found that DECT exhibited a significantly higher detection rate of tophi, suggesting that DECT can effectively visualize and identify tophi, aiding in early diagnosis and treatment planning. However, ultrasound demonstrated superior detection rates for inflammatory effusion and synovial thickening compared with DECT.
Regarding soft-tissue edema, both DECT and ultrasound demonstrated similar detection rates, indicating that either method can be used effectively for assessing this aspect of gouty arthritis.
The combination of both imaging modalities could potentially complement the strengths of each and overcome their individual limitations, providing a comprehensive diagnostic approach for gouty arthritis. Further research and larger studies may be necessary to validate these findings and establish an optimal imaging protocol for gout diagnosis.
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